Geological, Alteration and Mineralization Characteristics of Ali Javad Porphyry Cu-Au Deposit, Arasbaran Zone, NW Iran

Abstract

Ali Javad porphyry Cu-Au deposit is located 20 Km north of Ahar city in Arasbaran metallogenic zone which is considered as a part of Alp-Himalayan mineralization belt. Magmatism in this area began in Late Cretaceous, followed by extensive magmatism in Cenozoic and Quaternary periods. Porphyry type mineralization developed in Ali Javad quartz monzonitic porphyry stock and Eocene pyroclastic and volcanic country rocks. Ali Javad porphyry intrusion has shoshonitic nature and shows characteristics of volcanic arc granitoids that it is have been emplaced in a post-collision tectonic setting. Alteration zones at the deposit demonstrated zoning which is comparable with Lowel-Guilbert model proposed for quartz-monzonite type porphyry copper deposits. Phyllic, argillic, silicic and propylitic alteration zones were observed at the surface while potassic alteration zone could be observed at depth in drill core samples. Mineralization was recognized both as supergene and hypogene, the latter was as veins, veinlets and disseminations. Dominant hypogene minerals were chalcopyrite, bornite, molybdenite, pyrite and magnetite while chalcocite, covellite and limonite were dominant supergene minerals. Four mineralization zones were observed in the deposit as leached, transitional, supergene and hypogene zones. Average grades were 0.75% for copper and 1.86 ppm for gold with 81.5 Mt proved reserve for copper and 37.8 Mt for gold.